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Other into a friendship which lasted 1 his death and indeed endures in my he; to this hour. ff One day we irere delayed by the ban of a swollen river, and in pastime wc ont to hunt for deer. When we had hm ed awhile and killed three deer, it chane that Guatemcc perceived a buck standi: on a hillock, an i we set about to stalk five of ns in all But the .buck was in t open, and the trees and bush ceased a fi 100 yards away from where he stood, that there was no way bj which, wc -mig draw near to him. Then Guatemoc beg: to mock me, saying: "Now, Teule, th tell tales of your archery, and this deer thrice as far as we Aztecs can make su of killing. Let us see your skill. " "Iwin try," I answered, "thought shot is long." So we drew beneath the cover of a ceil tree, of which the lowest branches droo ed to within 15 feet of the ground, ai having set an arrow on the string of tl great bow that I had fashioned after tl shape of those we use in England I aim? and drew it. Straight sped the arrow ai struck the buck fair, passing through i heart, and a low murmur of wondermei went np from those who saw the feat Then, just as we prepared to go to tl fallen deer, a male puma, which is not! ing but a cat, though 50 times as big, thi 'had been batching the buck from abov dropped down from the boughs of the cc ba tree full on to the shoulders of tl Prince Guatemoc, felling him to tl ground, where he lay face downward, whi the fierce brute bit and clawed at his bael Indeed had it not been for his golden cu rass and helm Guatemoc would nev< have lived to be emperor of Anahuac, an perhaps it might have been better sa Now, when they saw the puma snar ing and tearing at the person of thc; prince, though brave men enough, tl three nobles who were with us were seize with sudden panic and ran, thinking hil dead. But I did not run, though I shoul have been glad enough to do so. At m side hung one of the Ipdjan weapons tha -serve them instead of swords, ? cljjb c wood set on both sides with spikes of oe sidian, like the teeth in the bill of a sword fish. Snatching it from its loop, I gav the puma battle, striking a blow upon hi head that rolled him over and caused th blood to pour. In a moment he was u; and at me roaring with rage. Whirling the wooden sword with both hands, smote him in midair, the blow passing be tween his opened paws and catching hin fall on the snout and head. So hard wa this stroke that m j weapon was shattered Still it did not stop the puma. In a sec and I was cast to the earth with agrea shock, and the brute was on me, tearing and biting at my chest and neck. It wai well for me at that moment that I wore t garment of quilted cotton; otherwise ] must have been ripped open, and ever with this covering I was sadly torn, anc to this day I hear the marks of the beast's * claws upon my body. But now when 1 seemed to be lost the great blow that I had struck took effect on him, for one of thc points of glass had pierced to his brain. He lifted his head; his claws contracted themselves in my flesh; then he howled like a dog in pain and fell dead upon my body. So I lay upon the ground unable to stir, for I was much hurt, until my com? panions, having taken heart, came back and pulled the puma off me. By this time Guatemoc, who saw it all, but till now was unable to move from lack of breath, had found his feet again. "Teule," he gasped, "you are a brave man indeed, and if yon live I swear that I will always stand jour friend to the death, as yon have stood minc. " Thus he spoke to me, but to thc others he said nothing* casting no reproaches at them. Then I fainted away. ^?0^^ CHAPTER XXL 3TEE COURT OF MONTEZUMA. Now, for a week I was so ill from my wounds that I was unable to be moved, and then I must be carried in a litter till we came to within three days' journey of the city of Tenoctitlan, or Mexico. One night we camped in a rest house, of which there were many built along the roads for the use of travelers, that was placed almost on the top of thc sierra or mountain range which surrounds the val? ley of Tenoctitlan. Next morning we took the road again before dawn, for the cold was so sharp at this great height that we, who had traveled from the hot land, could sleep very little, and also Guatemoc desired if it were possible to reach the city that night. When we had gone a few hundred paces, the path came to the crest of the moun? tain range, and I halted suddenly in won? der and admiration. Below mc loy a vast bowl of land and water, of which, howev? er, I could see nothing, for the shadows of the night still filled it. But before me, piercing the very clouds, towered the crests of two snow clad mountains, and on these the light of thcunrisen sun played, already changing their whiteness to the stain of blood Popo, or the Hill that Smokes, ?3 thc name of the ene, and Ixtac. or thc Sleeping Woman, that of the other, and no grander sight was ever offered to thc eyes of man than they furnished in that hour before the dawn. From the lofty summit of P^po went up great columns of smoke, which, what with thc fire in their heart and the crimson of the sunrise, looked like rolling pillars of fiama And for the glory of the glittering slopes below, that changed continually from the myste? ry of white to dull red, from red to crim? son and from crimson to every dazzling hue that the rainbow holds, who can tell it, who can even imagine it? None indeed except those that have seen thc sun rise over the volcano of Tenoctitlan. When I had feasted my eyes on Pope, I turned to Ixtac. She is not so lofty as her "husband," for so thc Aztecs name the volcano Popo, and when first I looked I could see nothing but the gigantic shape of a woman fashioned in snow and lying like a corpse upon her lofty bier, whose hair streamed down the mountain side. But now the sunbeams caught her also, and she seemed to start out in majesty from a veil of rosy mist, a wonderful and thrilling sight. But, beautiful as she was then, still I love thc Sleeping Woman best at eve. Then she lies a shape of glory on the blackness beneath and is slowly swal? lowed up into the solemn night as the dark draws its veil across her. Now, as I gazed thc light began to creep down the sides of thc vol?anos, revealing the forests on their flanks. But still the vast valley was filled with mist that lay in dense billows resembling those of tho sea, through which hills and temples tops started up like islands. By slow degrees as we passed upon our downward road the vapors cleared away and the lakes of Tez cuco, Chalco and X oe hi calco shone in the sunlight like giant mirrors. On their banks stood many cities. Indeed the greatest of these, Mexico, seemed to float upon the waters. Beyond them and about them were green fields of corn and aloe and groves of forest trees, while far away towered the black wall of rock that hedges in the valley. All day we journeyed swiftly through this fairyland. We passed through the cities of Amaqnem and A jotzinco, which I w^i not stay to describe, and ly village th?Fnestie? upon tbe-borders Lake Cha! co. Then we entered on. tl great causeway of stone built like a ra resting on the waters, and with the afte noon we came to the town of Cuitlahua Thence we passed on to Iztapalapan, ar here Guatemoc would have rested for tl night in thc royal house of his uncle Cui lahua. Bun when wo reached the town v found that Montezuma, who had been a< vised of our approach by runners, had sei orders that we were to push on to Teno titian, and that palanquins had boen mac ready to bear us. So vre entered the palanquins, and lea1 ing that lovely city of gardens were bon swiftly along the southern causeway. O we went past towns built upon piles fixe in the bottom of the lake, past garder that were laid out on reeds and floate over the waters like a boat, past teocali: and glistening temples without mini be; through fleets of light canoes and thor sands of Indians going to and fro abor their business, till at length toward sui set we reached the battlemented foi that is called Xoloc, which stands upo the dike. I say stands, but, alas, it stand no more! Cortes has destroyed it, an with it all those glorious cities which m eyes beheld that day. At Xoloc wo began to enter the city c Tenoctitlan, or Mexico, the mightiest cit that ever I had seen. The houses on th outskirts indeed were built of mud o adobe, but those in the richer parts wer constructed of redstone. Each house sui rounded a courtyard and was, in turn surrounded by a garden, while betweei them ran canals, having footpaths on el t hor side. Then there were squares, an< in the squares pyramids, palaces and tem pies without end. I gazed on them till '. was bewildered, but all seemed as noth ing when at length I saw the great tem pie, with its stone gateways opening t< the north and the south, the east and th? west, its walls carven everywhere witl serpents, its polished pavements, its teoc allis decked with human skulls, thousand1 upon thousands of them, and its vast sur rounding ti?nguez, or market place, caught hui a glimpse of it then, for th? dankness was falling, and afterward wi were borne on through the darkness, I die not know whither. Awhile went by, and I saw that wc hat left the city and were passing up a steer hill beneath the shadow of mighty c?dai trees. Presently we halted in a courtyard, and here I was bidden to alight. Then the Prince Guatemoc led me into a won? drous house, of which all the rooms were roofed with cedar wood and its walls hung with richly colored cloths, and in that house gold seemed as plentiful as bricks and oak are with ns in England, Led by domestics who bore cedar wands in theil hands, we went through many passages and rooms till at length we came to a chamber where other domestics were awaiting cs, who washed us with scented waters and clothed us in gorgeous ap? parel. Thence they conducted us to a door, where we were bidden to remove our shoes, and a coarse colored robe was given to each of us to hide our splendid dress. The robes having been put on, we were suffered to pass the door and found ourselves in a vast chamber in which were many noble men and some women, all standing and clad in coarse robes. At the far end of this chamber was a gilded screen, and from behind it floated sounds of sweet music Now, as we stood in the great chamber, that was lighted with sweet smelling torches, many men advanced and greeted Guatemoc, the prince, and I noticed that all of them looked upon me curiously. Presently a woman came, and I saw that her beauty was great. She was tall and stately, and beneath her rough outer robe splendidly attired in worked and jeweled garments. Weary and bewildered as I was, her loveliness seized me, as it were, in a vise-never before had I seen such love? liness, for her eye was proud and full like the eye of a buck, her curling hair fell upon her shoulders, and her features were very noble, yet tender almost to sadness, though at times she could seem fierce enough. This lady was yet in her first youth; perchance she may have seen some 18 years, but her shape was that of a full grown woman and most royal. "Greeting, Guatemoc, my cousin," she saic??na'^?et voice '"So you arc conic at last. My royal father has awaited you for long and will ask questions as to your delay. My sister, your wife, has wondered also why you tarried. ' ' . Now, as she spoke, I felt rather than saw that this lady was searching me with her eyes. "Greeting, Otomie, my cousin, " answer? ed the prince. '*I have been delayed by the accidents of travel. Tabasco is far away; also my charge and companion, Teule," and he nodded toward me, "met with an accident on thc road" '.What was thc accident?" she asked. "Only this-that he saved me from the jaws of a puma at the risk of his life when all the others fled from mc and was some? what hurt in thc deed. He saved mc thus, '1 -and in a few words he told the story. She listened, and I saw that her eyes sparkled at tho tale. When it was done, she spoke again, and this time to me. .'Welcome, Teule," she said, smiling. "You are not of our people, yet my heart goes out to such a man. " And, still smil? ing, she left us. "Who is that great lady?' I asked ol Guatemoc. "That is my cousin Otomie, thc prin? cess of the Otomie, my uncle Montezu ma's favorite daughter," he answered. "She likes you, Teule, and that is well for you for many reasons. Hush ! ' ' As he spoke thc screen at the far end of thc chamber was drawn aside. Beyond it a man sat upon a broidered cushion, who was inhaling the fumes of the tobacco weed from a gilded pipe of wood, after the Indian fashion. This man, who was no other than the monarch Montezuma, was of a tall build and melancholy counte? nance, having a very pale face for one of his nation, and thin, black hair. He was dressed in a white robe of the purest cot? ton and wore a golden belt and sandals set with pearls, and on his head a plume j of feathers of the royal green. Behind him were a band of beautiful girls somewhat slightly clothed, some of whom played on lutes and other instruments of music, and on either side stood four ancient counsel? ors, all of them barefooted and clad in ! the coarsest garments. So soon as the screen was drawn all tho company in tho chamber prostrated them? selves upon their knees, an example that I hastened to follow, and thus they remain? ed till the*'emperor made a sign with the gilded bowl of his pipe, when they rose to their feet again and stood with folded hands and eyes fixed abjectly upon tho floor. Presently Montezuma made anoth? er'signal, and threo aged men, whom. I understood to bc cmbassadors, advanced and asked some prayer of him. He an? swered them with a nod of the head, and they retreated from his presence, making obeisance and stepping backward till they mingled with the crowd. Then thc emper? or spoke a word to ono of tho counselors, who bowed and came slowly down the hall, looking to the right and to thc left. Presently his eye fell upon Guatemoc, and indeed ho was easy to see, for he stood a head taller than any there. _ .A man sat ttpon a broidcred- cushion haling the fumes of the tobacco. "Hail, prince,""he said. "Tho r< Montezuma desires to ?peak with yon, with the Terrie, your companion." "Do as I do, Teule," said Guaten and led the way up the chamber till reached the place where the wooden sci had been, whioh, as we passed it, 3 drawn behind us, shutting us oil fi the halL Here we stood awhile, with folded ha and downcast eyes, till a signal was m to us to advance. "Your report, nephew," said Monte ma in a low voice of command. "I went to the city of Tabasco, O g rious Montezuma. I found the Teule 1 brought him thither, also I caused high priest to bc sacrificed according to royal command, and now I hand back - imperial signet, " and he gave the ring a counselor. "Why did you delay so long upon 1 road, nephew?" "Because of thc chances of thc journ While saving my life, royal Montezun tho Teule,. my prisoner, was bitten bj puma. Its skin is brought to you as offering." Now Montezuma looked at me for 1 first time, then opened a picture scr that one of the counselors handed to h and read in it, glancing at me from tu to time. "The description is good," he said length, "in all save one thing-it does r say that this prisoner is tho handsonu man in Anahuac. Say, Teule, why ha your countrymen landed on my dominio and slain my people?" "I know nothing of it, O king," I a swercd as well as I might, with the he of Guatemoc, "and they are not my cou trymen." "The report says that you confess to ha lng the blood of these Teules in your veil and that you came to these shores, or ne them, in one of their great canoes." "That ls so, O king, yet I am not of thc people, and I caine to the shore floating 4 a barrel." "I hold that you lie, "answered Mont zuma, frowning, "for the sharks and ero odiles would devour one who swam thus. Then he added anxiously, l'Say, are ye of the descendants of Quetzal?" "? do not know, O king. I am of white race, and our forefather was nauu Adam." "Perchance that is another name U Quetzal," he said. "It has long bec prophesied that his children would ictun and now it seems that the hour of the coming is at hand. " And he sighed hea> ily, then added: "Go now. Tomorrow yo shall tell me of these Teules, and the com eil of the priests shall decide your fate." Kow, when I heard the names of th priests, I trembled in ail my bones an cried, clasping my hands in supplication "Slay mc if you will, O king, but I Ix seech you deliver me not again into th hands of the priests." '.We are ail in the hands of the priest* who are the mouth of God," he answer? coldly. "Besides I hold that you have lie to me." Then I went, foreboding evil, and Gua temcc also looked downcast. Bitterly di< I curse the hour when I liad said that was of the Spanish blood and yet no Span iard. Had I known even what I knev that day, torture would not have wrunj those words "from mc. But now it wa too late. Kow Guatemoc led mc to certain apart ments of this palace of Chapoltepee, wher his wifCj the royal Princess Tecuichpo was awaiting him, a very lovely lady, an< with her other ladies, among them th? Princess Otomie, Montczuma's daughter and some nobles. Here a rich repast wa served to us, and I was seated next to th Princess Otomie, who spoke to me mos graciously, asking me many things con corning my land and thc people of th Teules. It was from her that I lcarnec first that the emperor was much disturbe* at heart because of these Teales, or Span iards, for he was superstitious and hele them to be the children of tho god Quet zal, who, according to ancient prophecy, would come to tako the land. Indeed sc gracious was she, and so royally lovely, that for the first time I felt my heart stir red by any other woman than my betroth ed whom I had left far away in England, and whom, as I thought, I should nevei see again. And, as I learned in after days, mine was not the only heart that was stir? red that night. Near to us sat another royal lady, Pa pantzin, the sister of Montezuma, but she was neither young nor lovely, and yet most sweet faced and sad, as though with tho presage of death. Indeed she died not many weeks after, but could not rest quiet in her grave, as shall be told. When tho feast was done and we had drunk of thc cocoa or chocolate and smok? ed tobacco in pipes, a strange but most ? soothing custom that I learned in Tabasco, I and of which I have never been able to break myself, though thc weed is still hard to come by herc in Enghind, I was led to my sleeping place, a small chamber, paneled with cedar boards. For awhile I could not sleep, for I was overcome by the memory of all the strange sights that I had seen in this wonderful new land, which was so civilized and yet so barba? rous. Then my thoughts flew to the vision of that most lovely maid, the Princess Oto? mie, who, as I believed, had looked on me so kindly, and I found that vision sweet, for I was young, and the English Lily, my own love, was far away and lost to me for? ever. Was it then wonderful that I should find this Indian poppy fair? Indeed where is the man who would not have been over como hy her swecetness. her beauty and that stomp of royal grace which comes with kingly blood and the daily exercise of power? Like the rich wonders of tho robe sho wore, her very barbarism, of which now I saw but the better sido, drew and dazzled my mind's oyo. giving her woman's tenderness somo new quality, somber and strange, an eastern richness which is lacking in our well schooled Eng? lish women, that at one and thc same stroke touched both the imagination and tho senses and through them enthralled tho heart. For Otomie seemed such a woman as men dream of, but very rarely win, seeing that tho ivorlri has fow such natures and i fewer nurseries win TO they can he reared. j At once pure and passionate, of royal blood and heart, rich natured and most womanly, yet brave as a man and beauti? ful as the night, with a mind athirst for knowledge and a spirit that no sorrows could avail to quell, ever changing in her outer moods, and yet most faithful and with the honor of a man, such was Oto mie, Montezuma's daughter, princess of the Otomie. Was it wonderful then that I found her fi?ir, or, when fate gave mc her love, that at last I loved her in turn? And yet there was that in her nature which should have held me back had I but known of it, for, with all her charm, her beauty and her virtues, at heart she was still a savage, and, strivo as she would to hide it, at times her blood would master her. But as I lay in tho chamber of the pal? ace of Chapoltepec the tramp of the guards without my door reminded me that I had little now to do with love and other de? lights, I whose life hung from day to day upon a hair. Tomorrow the priests would decide my fate, and when the priests were judges the prisoner might know the sen? tence before it was spoken. I was a stran? ger and a white man, surely such a one would prove an offering more acceptable to the gods than that furnished by a thou? sand Indian hearts. I had been snatched from the altars of Tabasco that I might grace tho higher altars of Tenoctitlan, and that was all. My fate would bc to perish miserably far from my home, and in this world never to be heard of more. Musing thus sadly, at last I slept. When I woke, tho sun was up. Rising from my mat, I went to the wood barred window place and looked through. The palace whence I gazed was placed on the crest of a rocky hill. On one side this hill was bathed by the blue waters of Tezcuco; on the other, a mile or more away, rose the temple towers of Mexico. Along the slopes of the hill and in some directions for a mile from its base grew huge cedar trees, from the boughs of which hung a gray and ghostly looking moss. These trees are so large that the smallest of them is bigger than the best oak in this parish of Ditch ingham, while the greatest measures 22 paces round the base. Beyond and between these marvelous and ancient trees were the gardens of Montezuma, that with their strange and gorgeous flowers, their marble baths, their aviaries and wild beast dens were, as I believe, the most wonderful in the whole world. [The gardens of Monte? zuma have been long destroyed, but some of the cedars still flourish at Chapoltepec, though tho Spaniards cut down many. One of them, which tradition says was a favorite tree of the great emperor's, meas? ures-according toa rough calculation the author of this book made upon the spot about 60 feet round the bole. It is strange to think that a few ancient conifers should alone survive of all thc glories of Monte? zuma's wealth and state.] "At the least," thought I to myself, "even if I must die, it is something to have seen this country of Anahuac, its king, its customs and its people." [TO BE CO>*TINXED. J That Tired Feeling Hood's Sarsaparilla Makes the Weak Strong. " I cheerfully announce the facts of a course Di treatment with Hood's Sarsaparilla. I was troubled with a da tl headache and that tired feeling. I am employed by the St Louis & San Francisco Ballway and was out in all kinds of weather. I began to take Hood's Sarsaparilla, and after taking six bottles I felt perfectly well and had a good appetite. Hood's Sarsaparilla is a great blood purifier and I gladly recommend it.** C. E. TIBBETTS, Monett, Mr. C. E. Tibbetts. Missouri. Be we to get Hood's and only Hood's, because Hood's ts %%%%%%%%%%%%% Cures Hood 's Pills are the best family cathartic ind liver medicine. Harmless, reliable, sure. THE SUMTER INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN. rpHE TWENTY-SEVENTH COLLEGI X ate year of the Institute will begin September ll tb, 1894. With its full corps of efficient teachers and high standard of schol? arship, it offers advantages for educating young ladies, equal to any College for wo? men in this State. We intend that it shall grow in efficiency a3 it grows in years, and tbus command thc continued favor of its patrons, and commend itself to the favor of all who have daughters to educate. Entire expenses for the year from $150 to S200. For particulars apply to. H. FRANK WILSON, President, July 4_Sumter, S. C. DAVIDSON COLLEGE, DAVIDSON. N. C. FIFTY-EIGHTH YEAB BEGINS SEPT. 13, 1891 NINE MEN IN THE FACULTY, CURRICULUM IN LOWER CLASSES, HIGHER CLASSES ELECTIVE, THREE DEGREES CONFERRED. CLASSICAL, MATHEMATICAL, LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC, COMMERCIAL. Terms Reasonable, send for Catalogue. .A B. SHEARER, President. June 27-3m. S?? CAROLINA COLLEGE, COLUMBIA, S- C. Session begins Sept. 25th. Nine regular Courses, with Diplomas. Special Course9, with Certificates. Requirements for admis? sion modified. Board $8 a month. Total uecessary expenses for the year (exclusive of travelling, clothing, and books) from Si 12 to $152. Send for Announcement. For further information address the Presi? dent, JAMES WOODROW. July 18. Can you Keep a Secret? We know that some of you forget that we still have an ele . can and that some of you can- gant line of tlie celebrated not, but what we have to say this week is no secret, and you can tell it to your wives, sisters, mothers, sweethearts and cou? sins, husbands, fathers and "Hermsdorf F?St Elack brothers that we have some Hosiery/' extraordinary ? , ,, . u , * J And that to each purchaser of Bargains in Fresh and $1.00 or more we present a Seasonable Goods. beautiful souvenir. Our Clothing and Fur 2 Cases lovely as- dishing Department Sorted Ginghams is the Pride of the City. At 8 cents, former retail price A11 the' newest aud nobbiest 12? cents. Our buyer in New styles> m Men?s> Youths', Boysr York picked them up, that's and Chil4reDrs Clothing. Hats, how we got them. He's on the Shirts, Hosiery and Neckwear, look-out for just these kind of T? be found there, bargains, and we give you the benefit. Get om Prices On Groceries before buying. luany omer a ew give it t0 ym If you desire Goods quantity you can get that also We are selling-agents for a Have just been received and number of firms, and merchants you will find the prices aston- can buy certaiaa lines of goods ishly low, even for these times from us cheaper than else of Bed, Rock prices. Don't where. Remember the Place. J. RYTTENBERG j ???ONS, N.W. Cor. Main & Liberty 8ts." Sumter, S. C. New York Office, 84 West Broadway. A J ?SH & A H AW, THE LEADERS, -Have a New Feature ?A Bargain Counters ???.l-l-mHHMHanBHHnHiMnaBBHUBNB <J*3*s> Pi On which will be placed all remnant lots of SHOES In which most of the sizes have been sold. On this counter from time to time wiM be placed -Some exceptional Drives. Don't fail to come and look over,, you might find your size, and if you do not we will sell y?u a pair from the shelves almost as cheap. We have a full stock and we mast sell them. Our line of Dress Shoes for Ladies and Gents will please anybody. WALSH & SHAW, Monaghan Block - Sumter, S. C. April 18. EUGENE HOGAN Desires to inform his friends and the public that he has Re-opened his Business, Which was closed on account of his sickness several weeks ago, and is now better prepared than ever to handle fresh Meats of all kinds. Have put in a new and improved refrigerator, and can keep meats fresh and sweet any length of time. Call on him next to T. C. Scaffe's, Main St., Sumter, S. C"